Manipulation of nitrogen-contaminated natural gases



| s. TWOMEY 2,663,169

CONTAMINATED NATURAL GASES Dec. 22, 1953 MANIPULATION OF NITROGEN- 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 4, 1949 INVENTOR.

Dec. 22, 1953 s, wo E 2,663,169

MANIPULATION OF NITROGEN-CONTAMINATED NATURAL GASES Filed Aug. 4, 1949 1 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 AMMONIA INVENTOR Dec. 22, 1953 s. TWOMEY 2,663,169

MANIPULATION OF NITROGEN-CONTAMINATED NATURAL GASES Filed Aug. 4, 1949 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 CASCADE METHANE NITROGEN,

TRANSFER METHANE INVENTOR FIG. Z-B

Y JJ

ETHYLENE L. S. TWOMEY Dec. 22, 1953 MANIPULATION OF NITROGEN-CONTAMINATED NATURAL GASES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 4, 1949 DEGREES RANK/NE INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 22, 1953 UNITED STATES ATENT' OFFICE MANIPULATION OF NITROGEN -CONTAMI- NATED NATURAL GASES This application relatesto the transportation, purification, storage and distribution of natural hydrocarbon gases initially contaminated by inaterial proportions, of nitrogen.

Certain portions of the UnitedgStates, notably western Kansas, southwestern Colorado, and the Texas Panhandle, produce great quantities of natural gas containingup to fortyper cent by volumeof nitrogen. The greater part of this gas finds a market onl'yat aconsiderable distance from the field and 'must be transported through pipe lines for hundreds of miles, at a cost Whichoften materially exceeds the value of the gas at the well-head.

The separation and rejection of part'or all of the original nitrogen content has important advantages, even when this step is performed at the delivery end of the transmission line, and even greater advantages, when the removal is effected before the gas is transported over a great distance. The step is particularly effective and advantageous when combined 'Wlth storage of part of the purified gas at a point more or less adjacent to that at which itis distributed and used, or when the st-epof purification is combined with the recovery of liquid hydrocarbons from'the purified gas. The nature of these ad vantages and the various manners inwhich they may best be realizedwill be referred toin detail hereinafter.

Various methods for separating the contaminating nitrogen from natural gas are available. the present specification describing only the general method in which separation is eifected by partially liquefying the feed gas stream, parting the liquid and vapor phases thus produced, lique-, fying the vapor phase and fracticnating it in a suitable column, rejecting the relatively pure nitrogen yielded by the column'ahd recovering a bottom fraction rich in hydrocarbons, partially vaporizing the liquid phase in oneor more stages, and separating the vapor produced in this partial vaporization as a hydrocarbon gas containing some nitrogen but useful as fuel, and fractionating the residual liquid for the separation of valuable higher boiling hydrocarbons from a fuel gas substantially free fromnitrogen. I

The invention may best be described with reference to the attached drawings and the following description thereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagram illustratingthe essential steps of the process, devoid of detail and describing various permissible alternativesof procedure, and

Fig. 2A-2B is a flow Sheet of an operation and 13 Claims. 01. Gil-175.5)

2 assemblage of apparatus for performing the sepa ration of nitrogen and providing the extraneous refrigeration required'by the system.

Fig. 3 shows the variation in the total feed liquefied, the nitrogen in the liquid and the propane in the vapor with change in temperature of partial liquefaction.

Referring first to Fig. 1, A indicates a gas field producing nitrogen-contaminated natural gas: B is a treating unit in which the gas is deprived of carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and water vapor; C is a fractionating system; D is a gas storage system and E is a distributing system such as a city gas service. The locations of ele= ments A and E are, of course, fixed by circuin= stances and not controllable. The other three principal elements may be located as convenient, thus, the treating unit must be between the field and the fractionating plant but may be adjacent to either if they are separated; the fractionating plant and the storage plant (if provided) may each be adjacent to the field or adjacent to the distribution area or at a medial point, and finally, the fractionating plant and the storage plant may be closely adjacent or may be separated by any convenient distance.

Fig. 1 shows a line FF" connecting the field with the fractionating plant, with treating unit B located anywhere between A and C; a gas line GH' connecting the fractionating plant with the storage plant; a liquid line M connecting the fractionating plant with the storage plant, useful only. if these two elements are closely enough adjacent to permit the transfer of a liquefied gas in liquid condition; a gas line G'+K-J' connecting the fractionating plant directly with distribution and by -passing storage; a gas line I-J connecting storage with distribution; a gas line FS connecting the field with storage and by-passing the fractionatihg plant, and a gas line FT' connecting the field with the distribution area and by-passing both fractionation and store age. With such lines, of lengths determined by the relative locations of the units, it is possible to take care of any desired alternatives of procedure.

The fractionating system consists first of a. series or group of interchangers L' in which the feed gas is refrigerated, the partially liquefied gas passing through three separators or flash vessels AA, DD and in sequence maintained at successively increasing temperatures or decreasing pressures. The vapor from the first stage separator passes to a fractionating column BB in which a vapor rich in or, with careful fractiona tion, consisting substantially of nitrogen is witli drawn through conduit 34 and, after interchange against entering gas, is vented at 38 as waste nitrogen.

The vapors evolved in the second and third stage separators are combined, passing through conduit 46 to refrigerating system L from which they are vented at 8! as a hydrocarbon gas containing some nitrogen.

The liquid withdrawn from the third stage separator through conduit 55 contains a variable proportion of methane and ethane, according to the conditions maintained in the separators, together with substantially all of the hydrocarbons heavier than ethane which were present in the feed gas. This liquid passes to a deethanizing column FF from which the propane and heavier hydrocarbons are withdrawn at 61 while the vapor, consisting substantially of methane and ethane, is discharged through conduit 64.

The liquid collecting in the base of column BB, consisting substantially of methane and ethane, may be conducted in the liquid form through a conduit M to a liquid storage vessel N, provided this vessel be close enough to the fractionating plant to permit such transmission. If the storage plant be widely separated from the fractionating plant, this liquid residue will pass through conduit 59 to the refrigerating unit L from which it is discharged as a hydrocarbonrich fuel gas. This gas passes through conduit G-H to gaseous phase pressure storage indicated at O or to low pressure gaseous phase storage P or to a liquefier Q from which it passes into liquid storage N, to be withdrawn as required through a vaporizer indicated at R. From either of these storage vessels the gas passes through conduit I-J' to distributing system E, while in the absence of storage facilities the gas passes from the fractionating plant to distribution through conduit G'--K'-J.

The gas parted from liquid in the second and third stage separators will vary in quality with variations in the conditions maintained in the series of separators. In any case it will be useful as fuel and may be withdrawn as such for plant use or local disposal, or if the specification for fuel gas at the delivery point or the economics of transmission permit, it may be introduced into conduit G for admixture with the richer gases resulting from the two fractionationsj Fig. 2, consisting of the two Sheets 2A (left) and 23 (right) is a detailed flow sheet of a series of operations, following the general scheme above described, by which a gas containing a large proportion of nitrogen may be purified prior to long distance transmission. The same operations would prepare the purified gas for liquid storage at the delivery end of the line, with the single exception that the refrigerative value of the stored liquid is difficult or. impossible to utilize in the fractionating plant, which therefore requires a greater amount of make-up refrigeration from an outside source such as the cascade.

In the ensuing description, all pressures are stated in pounds per square inch absolute and all temperatures in degrees Kelvin.

For the purpose of illustrating the functions of the cycle the natural gas produced at Hugoton, Kansas is taken as an example, the analysis of this gas being as follows, in mole per cents:

Nitrogen 16.48 Methane 71.96 Ethane 6.32 Propane+ 5.24

The gas is assumed to enter the cycle at 240a and the purified gas, from which the nitrogen and the propane+ have been separated, is to be delivered to the long distance pipe line at the same pressure.

The feed gas, previously deprived of water vapor and carbon dioxide to such extent as to avoid freezing of interchangers and the like, enters the system at It at about 305. Passing through a distributing header II, the gas supply is divided into four streams, passing respectively through conduits l2, l3, l4 and i5 and diaphragm control valves IE, l1, l8 and 19 into interchangers A, B, C and D. These control valves are responsive to the temperatures in outlet conduits 2G,

' 2|, 22 and 23' and are set to operate at the same temperature, thus dividing the feed stream between the interchangers in proportion to the amount of refrigeration available in each.

In element A, a portion of the feed gas stream is cooled by purified gas; in B another portion is interchanged against separated nitrogen; in C a third portion is interchanged against flashed vapors, and in D the remainder of the feed is interchanged against a cold liquid. The sources of these various cooling fluids will later be described. The four feed streams are collected in conduit as a single stream.

The collected gas stream now passes through a series of interchangers in which it is progressively cooled. To avoid prolixity these cooling steps are listed, naming first the connecting conduit, indicated by a number, then the interchanger, indicated by a letter, then the kind of fluid against which the gas is interchanged and,

finally, the temperature of the gas at the outlet of the interchanger. The sources of these fluids will later be described and it will be understood that the pressure of the gas is not reduced through this series other than by friction.

Starting with conduit 24, through E against a cold vaporizing liquid product, to 195 K.; 25 through F against expanded liquid ethylene, to 189; 26 through G against expanded nitrogen, to 183; 21 through I-I against purified gas, to 181; 28 through J against a cold vaporizing liquid product, to 161; 29 through K against unexpanded nitrogen, to 159; 30 through L against a cold purified gas, to 153 K. At the outlet of interchanger L the pressure has dropped to about 230# and the temperature to 153, the stream passing then through conduit 3| to first separator AA in which a vapor, constituting about 48% of the weight of gas fed to the system is parted from a liquid constituting the remaining The molal composition of the vapor is approximately Per cent Nitrogen 28 Methane '72 and of the liquid Per cent Nitrogen 4.2 Methane 72.0 Ethane 12.9 Propane+ 10.9

phase equals the proportion of the total feed gas reduced to liquid phase by the cooling.

It is desirable to concentrate as much of the feed propane as possible in the liquid phase, in

ZiQQ-Si, 16.9.

order to recover; it. later, together with heavier hydrocarbons, by fractionation of the liquid. It is. also desirableto. concentrate asv little as possible of. the feed nitrogen as possible in the liquid because, if in the-liquid, it will undesirably contaminate the vapors: flashed ofi? in separators DD and EE, as will be described later.

Fig. 3 shows. by means of curves, the variation of each of the: three above discussed proportions with change in the temperature of partial liquefaction. Study of these curves supports the following. conclusions. 1

Starting at roomtemperature, in decreasing the condensing temperature a point is reached where nitrogen begins to appear the liquid and Wherethe proportion of the feed propane remain-.- ing in the vapor is still very high. Forsome distance below this point, further decreases. in term perature result in approximately commensurate decreases in the proportion of the feed propane in the vapor and approximately commensurate increases in the proportion of. the feed nitrogen in. the,- liquid. 1

With still further temperature decreases, the propane curve starts to flatten out and its condition of approximate commensurability with temperature is lost, so that a small temperature drop, sufficient to cause a presupposed increase. in. the proportion of feed nitrogen in the liquid, does. not

cause as large a decrease in the proportion of feed 1 propane in the vapor as did a temperature change sufiicient to cause an equal nitrogen increase in the higher temperature range. More. briefly; the approximately linear relation between propane and nitrogen has. disappeared. p

The propane curve is seen to have two points where its slope is unity. Only the lower unity point is involved in this discussion. .Above the lower point of unity slope, small reductions, in temperature produce. only small increases in the proportion of feed nitrogen in the liquid. but very large decreases in the. proportion of iced. propane remaining in the vapor. Below the lower point of unity slope, small reductions in temperature produce progressively smaller decreases in the. proportion of propane remaining in; the vapor, while the nitrogen rate is virtually unchanged until at a sufliciently low temperature to reduce the propane to. a very low value.

It is therefore highly advantageous to effect this partial liquefaction. oi the. gas. within a temperature range, the upper limit of: which is the lower of the two points of unity of the propane curve. Above. this point, propane recovery 'is seriously impaired by loss of propane to the vapor, with only a trifling benefit in reduction of nitrogen in the liquid.

Inspection of Fig. 3 shows this lower unity slope point to be about at the point of equality of the proportion of feed propane remaining in the vapor and the proportion of total. feed liquefied. v 7

The'separated vapor passes through conduit 3| to interchanger M in which it is cooled to 142 by expanded fractionator' bottoms, then through conduit 32 to interchangers N and X in parallel, in which it is cooled to 127 bystreams of expanding liquid methane from two sources, and finally through conduit 33 to fractionating column BB operating at about 220# absolute.

The overhead vapor from the column, at about 122, is divided into two streams, one of which passes through conduit 34 to interchanger K in which its temperature'is raised to I 147, then through conduit 35 to a reciprocating orturbo expander CG by which. its pressure is reduced o 22s: and its temperature to Th expanded stream pass s th oug c nduit. to interchan er G in which its temperature. is raisedto 212 in cooling the feed sac stream. then throu h conduit 31 to interchanger B in which its temperature is raised to 300 in the first cooling of one of the dehydrated gas. streams. and is vented from the system through conduit 38 as waste nitrogen oontainingabout 0.5% methane.

The l qui c llecting in s parator AA. p ss s a 230# and 53 K, through valved conduit 39 to interchaneer J, in which its temperature is raised to 172 by interchange a ainst the feed gas stream. then as a mixture of vap r and liquid through valved conduit 49 t second separator DD, The vapor from this separator has approximately the following composition:

Per cent Nitrogen .i 7.0 Methane 91.3 Ethane 1.6 Propane+ "ll"; 0.1

This vapor passes at 172 and 220# through conduit 4i and expansion valve 42 to a point of admixture with another. flash vapor which will now be described.

The liquid collecting. in separator DD has approximately the followingv mole-1 composition:

1 1 Y Percent Nitrogen 0.6 Methane 47.9 Ethane 27.0

1 Propane+ 24.5

This liquid passes through conduit 43, at 172 and 22cc, to interchanger E in which its temperature is raised to 205", then as a mixed vapor and liquid through valved'conduit 44 to a third separator p The vapor separating in this tank has approximately the following composition:

Percent Nitrogen 1.4 f Methane l 87.7 Ethane l- 1 10.1 Propane+ 0.8

In lieu of elevating the temperature of the liquid from separator AA in order to produce a flash vapor in separator DD, it is permissible and sometimes desirable to by-pass the liquid around interchanger J as through-conduit 39' and to reduce its pressure as by expansion valve 40'. This expansion leads to. reduction in temperature and partial vaporization.

As in the previous instance, it is permissible and may be desirable to by-pass interchanger E as, by means of conduit 43 (valve 44' being closed) and to reduce the pressure as by means of expa sion valve 44''. This expansion also leads to reduction in temperature and partial vaporization. a

It will be noted that the substitution of pressure reduction for temperature elevation at either point will lead to change in composition of all succeeding vapor d liquids. nd that the ccmpositions given are such as obtain in the use of the heating step at both points.

The vapor from separator EE passes through conduit 45 to a point of junction with conduit 4|, the mixed stream passing at 181 K. through conduit 48 to interchanger C, in which it is heated to about 300 in cooling one of the feed gas streams. The warmed stream at about 205# passes through conduit 47 to flash vapor com- 7 pressor 48 by which its pressure is raised to 240# and, after cooling to atmospheric temperature in aftercooler 49 is passed to the purified gas outlet through conduit 50.

If it is desired to have the purified gas delivered to the pipe line in the highest degree of freedom from nitrogen, the mixed fiash gas delivered by conduit 50 may be kept separate from the purer gases resulting from fractionation and utilized as fuel, for example in the operation of the plant. This mixed flash gas has a nitrogen content of about 5.5% whereas the products of columns BB and FF contain 0.5% and 0.12% nitrogen respectively.

The liquid collecting in the third separator E has approximately the following composition:

. Per cent Nitrogen Trace Methane 20.4 Ethane 38.3 Propane+ -1 40.8

This liquid passes at 205 and 210# through conduit to deethanizer feed pump 52 by which its pressure is raised to 560# and its temperature slightly elevated. The high pressure liquid stream passes through conduit 53 to interchanger D in which its temperature is raised to 267 in cooling one of the feed gas streams, then through conduit 54 to interchanger O in which it is heated to 288 by interchange with compressed gaseous ethylene in a cascade refrigerating system later described, the stream then passing through conduit 55 to a deethanizing column FF,

This column, operating preferably at about 550#, has the usual reboiler 56 heated by steam introduced at 51. The vapor leaving the column through conduit 58 is partially liquefied in reflux condenser P by expanded and evaporating liquid ammonia produced in the cascade refrigerating system. The liquid and vapor pass through conduit 59 to an accumulator 60 at about 270 K. The liquid is withdrawn through conduit 6! by reflux pump 62 and is returned through conduit 63 to the upper end of the column, the quantity, vaporizing pressure, or both, of the ammonia passing through P being regulated to provide the requisite quantity of reflux. The vapor from the accumulator passes through conduit 64, expansion valve 65 and conduit 66 to a junction with conduit 50' and thus to the stream of purified gas leaving the system.

The liquid drawn from reboiler 56 through conduit 01 is directed to any suitable fractionator for separation into desired liquid products. This liquid contains substantially all of the propane and heavier hydrocarbons originally carried by the feed gas.

Returning now to fractionating column BB, this column is provided with the usual reboiler 68 which is heated by compressed and previously cooled gaseous methane circulating in a methane transfer circuit later described. The liquid product of the column, drawn from the reboiler through conduit 69 at 158 K. and 220#, passes to interchanger M through an expansion valve by which its pressure is reduced to about 50# and its temperature to 129. From this interchanger, in which it withdraws heat from the vapor stream leaving separator AA while itself vaporizing at constant temperature, the fractionator bottoms passes through conduit H to interchanger L in which it withdraws heat from the partially cooled gas stream and is heated to about 156. It then passes through conduit 12 to'interchanger H in which it is again inters changed with the feed gas stream and is further warmed to about 172. The warmed stream, now completely vaporized, passes through conduit 13 to a turbo or other expander M by which its pressure is reduced to about 36# and its temperature to 166 K. The expanded stream passes through conduit 15 to interchanger A in which it is heated to about 300 K. in partially cooling one of the streams of feed gas.

The warmed and vaporized stream of fractionator bottoms passes through conduit '55 at about 30# to compressor '11, is compressed to about cooled in intercooler 18, further compressed to 240# in second stage compressor 19, and again cooled in after cooler 8c. The compressed stream then passes through conduit M to a junction with conduit 0% and thus out of the system as part of the make of purified gas.

The stream discharged at 82, a mixture of the bottoms from column BB, the tops from column FF and the vapors from separators DD and EE, is the purified gas to which the operation is directed, having approximately the following composition:

Per cent Nitrogen 2.7 Methane 89.3 Ethane 7.9 Propane 0.1

The fractionating column BB is provided with reflux liquid by a closed nitrogen liquefying circuit generally indicated at GG, including the following elements and steps:

Any required quantity of gaseous nitrogen is withdrawn from the top of the column through branch conduit 83 to interchanger Q in which it is heated to 300 K. in cooling a stream of compressed and water-cooled nitrogen. The warmed stream passes through conduit 8A to compressor 85 by which its pressure is raised to about 4.10;: the stream being then brought back to about 305 K. in aftercooler 86. The nitrogen stream then passes through conduit 81 to interchanger Q, in which it is in counterflow with the stream of cold nitrogen from the column and is cooled to about 127, then through conduit 88 to interchanger R in which it is liquefied by heat interchange with expanded and evaporating liquid methane. The liquid nitrogen then returns, through conduit 89 and expansion valve 90, to the top of the column, expansion to column pres sure vaporizing about one-fourth of the liquid and reducing the temperature to 111 K. at 220?? gauge. Y

The refrigerating system which introduces refrigeration to compensate various losses and which also transfers heat from one stage to another comprises, in addition to nitrogen liquefier GG already described, an ammonia liquefier generally indicated at I-II-l, an ethylene liquefier JJ, a transfer methane circuit KK and a cascade methane circuit LL.

A stream of gaseous anhydrous ammonia is compressed to 52# in compressor til, cooled to 305 in intercooler 92, compressed to in compressor 93 and liquefied by water cooling in condenser 94. The liquid passes through conduit 05 and expansion valve 96 to a separator MM, maintained at about 52# gauge, the vapor evolved in this separator returning through conduit 91 to the intake of compressor 93.

The stream of liquid ammonia drawn from the ylene i cllit JJ,

means t '1 is aimed! 99. ftion passing thro ond'uit i9; anciezgpansion v l'fl tb er? ah er Pin whim it "i z' rized be '15 nl u o yms am: o r oxn 1- men ERt ammo ia vapor r tummsth us nd t :W jib the ntak Jq com r '9 .7 t The otherportion gfthe liquid a In ia passes u h c n uit ip-a m xpansieswithe .103 to i he is Si 'n wh c it s Ya ci' zei at il u y n a s am 1 ompr sses @112 water t l hy ney s mm nia vapor retu nin through conduits'fl'll lrand m o the intake r .i t.

A t am se9.u hy ehe' is. temm'essed to 73. use'in mri e, i nageo l 157 tin. nte co er 4.15;, mpr sed to 32%? 1 .ompressor I97 and cooledto3fl5 in aftercoolergiflii; The Comp s e streamha s sthroueh ioi duit 1 tsj! a 15. 211 in mend thjt mp tu s-r sponsive sii phrasm i'v' s H2. H3.-

, ng d t main a fizhe Outlet "st eams from hw fl in e sal. se' s a 'the ame temper m-1. ,i.

C n t H0 d ts art .oi the. qm essesi e hy en s ream o nt rshans r O 'iwhi h i is in counterflow .wi hi he l q id pa si 'irwq we arator to (291. and .cQQIe-u to 272, the thyienefst m 't eriipalssi e through. .9 u l I 4 f l tfi i hfl lgfilffiin wh chi liquefi d y ed all aporat n "liquid amn oma.

n t l lhd hec s the remainder of the c mpressed t y' iiit'i hanse fr' n it' is cool d and 'liqu d byexpanded stli en w eturning from-int hang r'F' 'I'hejliguid streams from ls rs" n, ans; T e c ll cted n on: duit' d assiz r ush ex an ion lve 115 into y e ash tank the apo s parating'in this tank returning through conduit H1, at '73# and 201 K.,'to"the intake of compressor :01.

.A Stream of qu d ethyl ne d awn fr flas ta NN ugh pb duit l l is d vide a required part of the stream passing through conduit i 19 and expa'nsip lve l20, hy which it is reduced t ut 203* a ilil'li", qinte h nser F in which it is in cg unterf1ow with partially cooled feed gas and isvaporizedand warined'to 1 K- he stream; el eth len va t iei passes h ou h c mm? i iit' nterchan '13 in which it withdraws heatifrom compressed eth': Di e at 300a 1d a qt 2to the'intake of comtetwq a ch 1s# through :condu'i pressor I05. H

The r m n e 'oi h je hv ene asses throu h conduit 12s and'eigp' onva lve J24 .tointer: ch r U n whisii vap iz din iquei ns cascade methane; returning through conduit I24 to the intake of compressor H15 at about 300 and 16#.

In the transferrnethane ci'rc itiKK, a stream again water-cooled in; aftercooler 28 passing thence through oonduit 129 to 'n1;e11g:hanger' Vjn which it is ifurth to about 1189". The stream" then pass ligh conduit, J39 .to are boiler 58 of fraotl BB, in which it is cooled-t9 1 16 ue'fieu, e heat to the lower mip ses th q e.va e ifi iint wines at '64# and" messianm me separating h. .91. "I'he vapor ingthrough cqndnit 1.31 to the intake of com-.- iessor .2 a a n he cas ade methane ir i L a a of assin -methane is sqm res j o b 1 t8 in 'comnmssnr lit; wate o ed in intercobler 139; compressed 'tOIf 73# in compressor I49 and wateii-copl si-tp 0. .ite c ler I41. ."lhe sem esse v e h n m pa e through conduit [42 tointerchanger W in which i s par i l cooled by me ha e v po d scha ged. from int mll s rs R and pa sin then through conduit I43 to interchanger U in which it is cooled to about and is liquefied, in counterflow with expanded and evaporating liquid ethylene. The liquid stream passes through conduit lMand expansion valve I45 into flash tank PP maintained at 83# and 138 K. The vapor from this tank passes through conduit I46 to the intake of compressor I40.

The liquid collecting in tank PP passes in part through conduit l4! and...expansion valve M8, by which it visreduoe'd to 22%? and 117, to interchanger R in whichv it is vaporized and warmed to 122 in liquefying compressed nitrogen in circuit GG, passing thence through conduit M9 to interchanger W.

The remainder of the stream ,of liquid methane leaving tank PP through conduit l4] is'diverted through branchcondui't' .150 and expansion valve l5l, which it is reduced toi22# and 117, to interchanger X in which it performs part vof the final cooling of the feed gas stream enteringcol umn BB. The methane vapor produoedvin interchanger X passes through conduits I52 and M9 to interchanger The conjoined methane streams, brought up to about 300 in this interchanger, return through conduit I53 to the intake o fncompressor i3 8.

The use ofa succession of flashing stages two or, preferably a larger number, is highly. desirable as increasing the regovery ofpropane and. heavier hydrocarbons. -'Ihat i s to sa for a gas of given composition, and assuming that the liquid produced by partialliguefaction flashed down to somegiven nitrogen-content, aplurality of flashes ie ds a l q j sidu rich r in pro an th n a Single Stage fl h. t e -,qq ,1 =ent atien f propane in h res due mamas-ne a i n hin a as h numbr vf asl es s increas d T ifn e n e overyhetwe n sin ash and a fl n f. W 91mm? flas es 1 0 he s m nitiqogen content tii natel-y, is often of consids erable'cor'nmercial I c aim as 11 1mm 1. The methpdof M P Q e rom eitr genwontami at' na ur ,rges s T 1 nsP and avi h rons w i ee'me i i Par a li i e aidgeais' an partin a m iqu-is ean in n tro en r Nev r isk esem rae ienatins aid apo n; e e e nit o en omh dmca e s; Pe th-11x rewr tin said ,rl uid n 3 1 1.11

rali'ty of stages and flashing off a propane-lean initi ti use g ups o vapor in each said stage, and withdrawing from the last of said stages a liquid enriched in propane and heavier hydrocarbons.

2. The method of separating useful groups of components from nitrogen-contaminated natural gas containing propane and heavier hydrocarbons which comprises: partially liquefying said gas and parting a vapor richer in nitrogen and leaner in propane than said gas from a liquid leaner in nitrogen and richer in propane than said gas; reducing the pressure on said liquid in a first stage and flashing off a propanelean vapor from said stage; adding heat to the liquid residue from said first stage and flashing oil a second propane-lean vapor in a second stage, and withdrawing from said second stage a liquid richer in propane and leaner in nitrogen than said nitrogen-contaminated natural gas.

3. The method of separating useful groups of components from nitrogen-contaminated natural gas containing propane and hydrocarbons heavier than propane which comprises: partially liquefying said gas and parting a vapor richer in nitrogen and leaner in propane than said gas from a liquid leaner in nitrogen and richer in propane than said gas; adding heat to said liquid in a first stage and flashing off a propane-lean vapor from said stage; adding heat to the liquid residue from said first stage and fiashing off a second propane-lean vapor in a second stage, and withdrawing from said second stage a liquid richer in propane and leaner in nitrogen than said nitrogen-contaminated natural gas.

4. In the manipulation of a stream of nitrogen-contaminated natural gas containing propane and hydrocarbons heavier than propane, the steps comprising: partially liqueiying said stream and parting a stream of vapor enriched in nitrogen and lean in hydrocarbons heavier than ethane from a stream of liquid leaner in nitrogen than said natural gas; fractionating said stream of vapor to produce a stream of liq uid leaner in nitrogen than said vapor; flashing streams of vapor rich in methane and lean in propane from first said liquid stream in a plurality of stages; fractionating the stream of liquid from the last of said stages to separate a stream of vapor rich-in methane and lean in propane from a liquid stream predominantly of propane and heavier hydrocarbons and substantially free from nitrogen; vaporizing second said liquid stream and merging the resultant vapor with one of the streams of vapor from said plurality of stages of flashing to form a stream of gas substantially lower than said contaminated natural gas in concentration of nitrogen and of hydrocarbons heavier than ethane.

5. In the manipulation of a stream of natural gas, the steps comprising: partially liquefying said gas to produce a first liquid and a residual first vapor; separating said first liquid from said first vapor; fractionating said first vapor to produce a second liquid and a second vapor; vaporizing said second liquid to form a third vapor; partially vaporizing said first liquid; parting the residual liquid from a fourth vapor resulting from said partial vaporization, and merging said third vapor with said fourth vapor.

6. In the manipulation of a stream of natural gas, the steps comprising: partially liquefying said gas to produce a first liquid and a residual first vapor; separating said first liquid from said first vapor; fractionating said first vapor to produce a second liquid and a second vapor; vaporizing said second liquid to form a third vapor;

12 partially vaporizing first said liquid in a succession of stages; parting the resultant vapor from the residual liquid in each stage of said succession, and merging said third vapor with the vapor separated in at least one of said stages.

7. In the manipulation of a stream of natural gas, the steps comprising: partially liquefying said gas to produce a first liquid and a residual first vapor; separating said first liquid from said first vapor; fractionating said first vapor to produce a second liquid and a second vapor; vaporizing said second liquid to form a third vapor; partially vaporizing said first liquid; withdrawing a fourth vapor and a liquid residue from said P partial vaporization; fractionating last said liquid to produce a vapor and a liquid residue, and merging last said vapor with said third and fourth vapors.

8. In the manipulation of a stream of natural gas, the steps comprising: partially liquefying said gas to produce a first liquid and a residual first vapor; separating said first liquid from said first vapor; fractionating said first vapor to produce a second liquid and a second vapor; vaporizing said second liquid to form a third vapor; partially vaporizing said first liquid in a plurality of stages; Withdrawing a vapor and a residual liquid from each of said stages; fractionating the liquid Withdrawn from the last of said stages to produce a vapor and a liquid residue, and merging last said vapor with said third vapor and with the vapor from at least one stage of said plurality of stages.

9. In the fractionation of a stream of nitrogencontaminated natural gas, the steps comprising: dividing said stream into a plurality of branch streams; cooling each of said branch streams; merging said branch streams to form a reunited stream; fractionating said reunited stream to produce a first stream predominantly of nitrogen with a small methane impurity; a second stream predominantly of methane with a small nitrogen impurity and a third stream predominantly of methane plus ethane with a nitrogen impurity greater than that of said second stream, and passing each of said first, second and third streams in heat interchange with one of said branch streams uo assist in effecting said cooling.

10. In the separation of a stream of natural gas, the steps comprising: cooling said stream whereby a condensate is formed; parting a stream of said condensate from a stream of residual vapor; partially vaporizing said condensate stream in a plurality of steps; parting a stream of vapor from a stream of residual liquid after each of last said steps, and efiecting said partial vaporization in at least one of the last said steps by passing the condensate stream from a preceding step in heat interchange with said natural gas stream.

11. In the separation of a stream of nitrogencontaminated natural gas, the steps comprising: progressively cooling said stream whereby a hydrocarbon-containing condensate is formed; parting a stream of residual vapor from a stream of said condensate; further cooling and at least partially liquefying said vapor stream; fractionating last said stream; withdrawing a high-boiling liquid product stream from said fractionation; vaporizing and superheating said product stream by heat interchange with at least a portion of said residual vapor stream prior to said fractionation and with said natural gas stream; expanding said product stream with the production of external Work whereby last said stream is cooled; and superheating said expanded product stream by heat interchange with at least a portion of said natural gas stream to assist in said progressive cooling.

12. In the fractionation of a mixed gas stream, the steps comprising: efiecting a cooling of said stream by heat interchange with a stream of an expanded and boiling higher-boiling product of said fractionation; dividing first said stream into two branch streams; cooling one of said branch streams by heat interchange with a stream of an expanded and boiling extraneous refrigerant; cooling the other of said branch streams by heat interchange with a stream of expanded and boiling liquid refrigerant which has been liquefied in imparting heat to said fractionation; merging said cooled branch streams; fractionating the merged stream to produce said higher boiling product, and withdrawing said product stream from said fractionation.

13. In the fractionation of a natural gas, the steps comprising: cooling said gas to partial liquefaction in a plurality of steps; parting the resultant liquid from the residual vapor; fractionating the residual vapor to produce a product rich in the lower-boiling hydrocarbon components of said natural gas; flashing off a vapor from first said liquid to leave a residual liquid; heating said residual liquid by heat interchange With said natural gas in one of said plurality of steps; fractionating said heated residual liquid to produce a product rich in the lower-boiling hydrocarbon components of said natural gas.

LEE S. TWOME'Y.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 668,197 Le Seur Feb. 19, 1901 1,266,621 Peterson May 21, 1918 1,429,175 Thompson Sept. 12, 1922 1,497,546 Claude June 10, 1924 1,607,322 Van Nuys Nov. 16, 1926 1,620,192 Claude Mar. 8, 1927 2,082,189 Twomey June 1, 1937 2,122,238 Pollitzer June 28, 1938 2,214,790 Greenewalt Sept. 17, 1940 2,265,558 Ward et a1. Dec. 9, 1941 2,280,383 De Baufre Apr. 21, 1942 2,475,957 Gilmore July 12, 1949 2,495,549 Roberts Jan. 24, 1950 2,500,118 Cooper Mar. 7, 1950 2,500,129 Laverty Mar. 7, 1950 2,541,569 B'orn et a1. Feb. 13, 1951 2,557,171 Bedle et a1. June 19, 1951 OTHER REFERENCES Separation of Gases, by Ruhemann (pp. 269- 279 relied on). 

1. IN THE METHOD OF SEPARATING USEFUL GROUPS OF COMPONENTS FROM NITROGEN-CONTAMINATED NATURAL GAS CONTAINING PROPANE AND HEAVIER HYDROCARBONS WHICH COMPRISES: PARTIALLY LIQUEFYING SAID GAS AND PARTING A LIQUID LEAN IN NITROGEN FROM A VAPOR RICH IN NITROGEN; FRACTIONATING SAID VAPOR AND SEPARATING NITROGEN FROM HYDROCARBONS; PARTIALLY VAPORIZING SAID LIQUID IN A PLURALITY OF STAGES AND FLASHING OFF A PROPANE-LEAN VAPOR IN EACH SAID STAGE, AND WITHDRAWING FROM THE LAST OF SAID STAGES A LIQUID ENRICHED IN PROPANE AND HEAVIER HYDROCARBONS. 